Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 1479 His Hand (Second Update)

"Are you sure you can do this?" Natasha Romanov asked through her headset while tidying up the travel-sized toiletries scattered on the motel sink. "Isn't this betrayal, V?" she said. "Can the agents in Information Processing Center hear us?"

"Don't call me that, Agent Romanov. Besides, that kind of sowing discord is too low-level. Save it for when the FBI is wiretapping you." Victoria Hand's tone was as serious as ever. "You know what I want to do. No bullet, no phone call is free. I can only assure you that the CIA found you not because we leaked intelligence, but because you've been a target of their high-intensity facial recognition search. Don't you know how much the Department of Homeland Security has offered for you?"

"I can't possibly entrust my sister to you." Natasha Romanov turned on the tap, using the sound of running water to distract the other end of the call. The cold water droplets splashed on her neck, sending shivers down her spine. She knew this would be largely ineffective; after all, Victoria Hand's technicians could determine her exact location not only through surrounding sounds during the conversation, but also through nearby cell towers. Moreover, Victoria Hand's ease in letting her leave the Skysword Space Station indicated she was confident in her ability to track her—a rumor circulated in the Yugoslav Federation that Victoria Hand knew what customers wanted to eat before they even ordered—Natasha Romanov didn't believe the behavioral pattern assessment system she knew was incapable of such a feat.

The water gradually heated up, and a thin layer of steam condensed on the mirror above the sink.

"They don't have the same advantages as the Immortal City Academy; they've been tools their entire lives." Natasha Romanov looked at the blurry figure in the mirror—red hair braided into pigtails, the pale cheeks from lack of sleep and food barely visible. "They've never had free will. I've found a clue; now I must save them."

"I don't want to argue with you about the difference between people who use tools, Agent Romanov." Victoria Hand waved her hand, seemingly shooing something away. "I led your operation, remember?"

"Ugh, that's a really bad memory."

Agent Natasha Romanoff reached out and wiped a water stain off the fogged mirror.

If you ignore her beauty, then her drab gray winter coat is completely unremarkable.

When S.H.I.E.L.D. was still under the jurisdiction of the Security Council, Victoria Hand held the dual honors of the highest mission success rate and the highest agent casualty rate. Although Victoria Hand rose from the operations department to the command department, she would stop at nothing to ensure mission success, abandoning frontline agents with a ruthlessness surpassing that of politicians. She even advocated issuing cyanide pills to frontline agents for suicide in front of prisoners.

Fortunately, Nick Fury rejected the proposal.

Even with such cold-bloodedness, Victoria Hand remained highly valued because she knew nothing was more important than the mission. Back then, S.H.I.E.L.D. represented justice, and no one could better embody their determination to complete their missions—sometimes Natasha Romanoff would miss that life, a life where good and evil were starkly indistinguishable. But in this world, good people achieve justice through violence, while true criminals reap the rewards of kindness and hypocrisy—if it were merely indifference, Natasha Romanoff wouldn't have any interaction with her. However, Victoria Hand didn't revel in this power. Every time she abandoned an agent, it was a necessary choice, and she ensured that the affairs of each agent were properly handled afterward. She would fulfill every promise she made, just as she explained the risks of the mission to every agent in the operations department before each operation.

If we exclude professional factors, then what she said is what she thinks, and what she is going to do.

Such a person is worthy of respect; she is as indestructible as steel and rock.

"I'm so glad the Budapest mission wasn't led by you, V."

"I've never seen anyone retire from this line of work. Perhaps you think you'll be an exception, but your so-called free will and those girls' is nothing more than selling yourself to someone who's willing to pay a higher price. How many organizations in the world do you think can accept so many agents and keep them running?" Victoria Hand's voice was as cold as ice water, sending chills down your spine. "Not many organizations, are they?"

"What are you trying to say?"

“If I discover they’re spying on the Emperor and his subordinates, my methods won’t be so gentle. Death will be the best gift for the interrogated. You’ve witnessed the interrogation process in the Immortal City; we can extract what we want from the brain, and the interrogators are adept at inflicting pain.” Victoria Hand’s tone shifted. “You seem to have a poor appetite. The hotel’s breakfast was quite good, a classic American breakfast, and the hygiene was good. I ordered one for you; it should arrive in about three minutes. Judging from your gait, you’ve had a gunshot wound and are likely losing a lot of blood. You desperately need heat to maintain your body temperature; the temperature in Alaska isn’t exactly mild.”

Natasha Romanov looked at her bloodshot eyes in the mirror and gave a helpless chuckle. "Alright, I'll consider it." She blinked. Water droplets dripped from her damp cheeks. It was dry here, and she had come without any protective gear. "I want plenty of intelligence, vehicles, and weapons. This is the first deal; I'll give you what you've always wanted."

As soon as she finished speaking, her phone, which was placed next to the sink, began to vibrate.

"The safe house address and contact information for the contact person have been sent to your prepaid phone. You'll have enough medicine and weapons. As for transportation, I've already paid for it; you just need to give the password." Victoria Hand made no mention of how the Yugoslavian intelligence agency obtained these things in the snow-covered land of Alaska, and Natasha Romanov didn't want to ask. She only wanted to know if the tools were reliable. "Contact me again in an hour, unless you need a rest."

"No need, I need to act as soon as possible."

"You're just an ordinary person, remember?"

Natasha Romanov turned off the tap and dried her face with a compressed towel. The person in the mirror looked haggard, even with dark circles under her eyes. She had been following this lead for a week, only getting two or three hours of sleep a night, her last sleep spent on a Greyhound bus, where she even dealt with a thief. "You've been hanging out with those golden Supermen too long, V. Some things humans can do too."

"I told you not to call me that." Victoria Hand cut off the communication and looked at the golden giant behind her. Golden eagle wings spread across the giant's temples, erasing all human facial features and sculpting the Royal Guard's face into a fierce and noble raptor. "This is today's report, Amon." She handed the Royal Guard the chip containing the information. "Just some girls whose skills aren't as good as Agent Romanov's. Does He have any arrangements for them?"

"Recruitment, V." A gentle smile, like a breeze rippling across a lake, spread across Amon's face behind the visor. "We're short-handed, and some well-trained agents can fill the gaps. Are you confident in commanding such a special operations organization?"

“I’m afraid Agent Romanov won’t relinquish command,” Victoria Hand calmly shook her head. Hundreds of screens in front of her simultaneously displayed images of every important target: bank surveillance cameras, cell phone cameras, computer webcams, even a home security camera and a car dashcam. This was just a preliminary overview, not for intelligence analysts. “Besides, I don’t think she’ll agree to let those girls undergo modifications. She’s far too sensitive about it; she’s unwilling to accept even the most basic amplification circuitry. She’s our only link to that organization; removing her command means losing those girls.”

"I understand. I will pass on this to the Regent, and he will take note of it."

Please vote for me.

I should keep updating during the Chinese New Year.

(End of this chapter)